Last summer many at St Paul's enjoyed reading Nabeel Qureshi's book Seeking Allah Finding Jesus which details his journey from a Muslim upbringing to a Christian faith.
We are saddened to read his latest announcement and offer our prayers for him at this time.
"This is an announcement that I never expected to make, but God in His infinite
and sovereign wisdom has chosen me for this refining, and I pray He will be
glorified through my body and my spirit. My family and I have received the news
that I have advanced stomach cancer, and the clinical prognosis is quite grim.
Nonetheless, we are going to pursue healing aggressively, both medical and
miraculous, relying on God and the fact that He is able to do immeasurably more
than all we ask or imagine.
In the past few days my spirits have soared
and sank as I pursue the Lord's will and consider what the future might look
like, but never once have I doubted this: that Jesus is Lord, His blood has paid
my ransom, and by His wounds I am healed. I have firm faith that my soul is
saved by the grace and mercy of the Triune God, and not by any accomplishment or
merit of my own. I am so thankful that I am a child of the Father, redeemed by
the Son, and sealed in the Spirit. No, in the midst of the storm, I do not have
to worry about my salvation, and for that I praise you,
God.
Unfortunately this means I am no longer able to engage in traveling
ministry for the time being. I am canceling almost all my speaking events, with
a few exceptions. From this point on until such a time as the Lord might choose
to heal me, I intend to blog or vlog about my journey with cancer, transparently
offering my heart, thoughts, and struggles in case they might encourage others
and glorify God. I will no longer be with Ravi Zacharias International
Ministries, though it has been an absolute privilege to be on the team for the
past 3 years. My third book, No God But One: Allah or Jesus?, launched today,
and I still intend to write my next book, 20 Questions Muslims Ask and the
Answers that Convert Them. Beyond that, the Lord knows.
Friends and
family, may I ask you to fast and pray fervently for my healing? I do not
profess to know the will of the Lord, but many of my close friends and
confidants are convinced that this is a trial through which the Lord intends to
bring me alive and refined. May His will be done, and may I invite you to seek
Him in earnest, on your knees, fasting on my behalf, asking our Yahweh Rapha for
healing in Jesus' name.
And as you pray and fast, "I will rejoice, for I
know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, this
will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I
will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will
be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.” (Philippians
1:18-20)
For His Glory,
-Nabeel"